Trial and Error Kitchen Table

I'm beginning to see a pattern form, for the past three years just before Thanksgiving, I have decided to take on a project that couldn't possibly be completed before Thanksgiving without giving Bradly serious thoughts about he's desire to stay in this relationship.  Not surprisingly,  this year is no different.

If you have followed my blog, you know that I acquired a lovely kitchen table (click there for a link to the original blog or I've put a picture of the table below) from a family friend.  I can remember the table from my childhood and I love having it in my home.  Originally, it came with a set of chairs and a bench on at least one side (I can't remember if both sides had a bench or not, but that really doesn't matter).  I currently have it paired with a set of chairs from a small wooden dinette set that I got when my grandparents sold their farm in Fairfield.  The chairs don't exactly match the table, but they are functional.  I'm looking for some metal industrial type chairs, but the dinette ones will work for now.

Original Table

If you like following me and happen to follow me on Pinterest, you know I have been pinning a lot of weathered kitchen tables lately.  So, today I began my annual project that will, without a doubt, cause unneeded stress over the next two weeks.  However, I will say this, the projects that cause the most stress are also the ones I enjoy the most when they are complete!

Achieving a weathered wood look is difficult.  I experimented with several different stains and mixtures before I came to a color I think will work.  Let me back up, I wanted to make sure I truly was ready for this project without tearing apart the entire table, so I dug the leaves (I'm not positive that's what they are called) out of the garage and turned them into my guinea pigs.

I first sanded the original finish completely off, down to the bare and shockingly white wood.

I was really impressed with how white the wood was once I got it all sanded down.  It is a beautiful wood. 

I was extremely pleased with the texture of the wood, I think it's in excellent condition.  I purchased two different finishes, Minwax Polyurethane in a clear satin finish and a small container of Minwax Wood Finish stain in Ebony.

I mixed them together in various amounts and used them on their own in different ways.  I finally came to the two following options (and for the record, I wanted a weathered look that had a grayish hue, look through some of my other posts, everything in this house is some shade of brown).

I have taken a poll of my people and tomorrow I am moving forward with the lighter option.

I had some gray paint left over from one of the upstairs rooms that I decided to use as my light coat over the stain.  I watered it down quite a bit, then went over the table in sections, painting gray and then wiping off any excess paint.  This left the table with a weathered grey look.

After the stain and grey wash have been applied.  The lighting doesn't show the grey as well as it looks in person.

I decided to paint the base white.  It makes it pop against the brown floor.

Lastly, I went over the table with an acrylic clear coat.  I will probably go back and put a thick enamel or poly coat, but for right now the acrylic will work.

Completed project!  I really love it!  Just enough grey to set it apart from all of the brown in the house.

Before and After

Puerto Rico Girls Trip

Not related to the house at all, but here are a few shots from the girls trip (w/ Erin and Jennifer) we took to Puerto Rico in February/March.  I fell in love with this place.

Happy times!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Memorial Day Weekend: Porch Projects

For the extended holiday weekend, I decided to work on my back porch.  Several weeks ago we were given an above ground pool, one of those bright blue ones.  I never really liked the look of those so I searched around Pinterest until I found a way to make it look a little less blue.  I covered the outside with bamboo fencing from Home Depot. 

The bamboo gave the backyard a tiki type feeling.  I decided I needed to decorate my porch a little to match the effort I had put into the pool. 

I repainted an old night stand that I found, painted some folding rocking chairs that were left on the road for the dump, painted the back of an outdoor rug I had already on the porch, painted my porch swing that I got for mother's day, and hung some signs around (LOVE Hobby Lobby). 

I went through entirely too many cans of spray paint and probably killed a few brain cells, but I am happy with the end result!!

Next weekend I'm painting the porch! I think.  

Luster Lack

Since we moved in, I have struggled to keep our floors looking clean. No matter what I did, there was always a dirty film left on the floors. They never look clean and they never shine. 

I tried everything, product that I purchased to products that I made. Nothing worked.

I finally found something recently. Quick Shine by Holloway House.  I purchased this product at Home Depot and it finally works!!

Summer is coming!

Time to get the front porch ready!

(I think I have an obsession with old metal lawn chairs!) 

 

I do love my old metal chairs.  I've gotten most of them from Muzzy's Alley in downtown Greenville.  But several came from my parents and one or two came from a garage sale.  I just can't say no to them!

More work on the Master Bath

I decided to be a little productive before I return to work next week.  One of my first fun projects was the vanity area of the bathroom that I paper mâché wall papered and then spray painted the counters with a hammered copper spray paint.  That project took me all weekend and I haven't touched that room since then.  The counter tops in the two rooms were different and it just didn't look good.  

Today I painted the counter tops to match the vanity room and then decided to use the left over tiles from the guest bathroom project to update the laminate floor. 

Here are a few pictures from the project...

As soon as I get a chance to get more tile, I'm thinking I'll change the counter trim/backsplash to something like what's in the above picture.